Definition

A type of sugar made up of a ring of glucose molecules, which can help in chemical reactions and is often used in food and pharmaceuticals.

Example

Cyclodextrin is used to improve the solubility of certain drugs in the body.

Conversation

Have you heard about cyclodextrin?

Yeah, I think it's used in food science or something like that.

Exactly! It helps in stabilizing flavors and nutrients.

That's really interesting! I had no idea it could do that.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Cyclodextrin is formed from "cyclo-" (from Greek "kyklos", meaning circle) and "dextrin" (from Greek "dextrin", meaning a type of carbohydrate). The term refers to a circular structure of glucose units that form a specific type of carbohydrate.

Memory Tip

Imagine a 'circle' ('cyclical') of sugar units ('dextrin') — that's what cyclodextrin is, a circular carbohydrate.

Visually Confused Words